What to know about Dubai

Dubai, a city in the desert of the United Arab Emirates.

Like any country, respectively any culture, there are some things in Dubai that you should be aware of and perhaps know. Still other things are just interesting or “good-to-know”. I have already learned quite a bit about Dubai and the customs here, even though I have only been here about a week.

The Temperature

As far as temperatures go, Dubai truly peaks here. In the hottest months (July, August, September — which we are currently experiencing) it is consistently at least 42° here. Last week, the highest temperature ever measured in the desert was 52°. At night it cools down to about 36–38°. So it is not really cool at this time.

But it is completely different in January and February. A friend who has been living in Dubai with her husband for 6 years told me that it cools down to 12–13° at the beginning of the year. Yes okay, 12° is also not really cold but compared to the months of 42–46° it is then already very little.

I can hardly imagine that it actually gets a little cooler here. It’s true that you don’t have to be afraid of too much heat in Dubai. But that is rather due to all the air-conditioned malls, restaurants, cafes and also “tunnels” or corridors that lead you almost everywhere. These are sometimes cooled down so much that I am then often glad to be able to step into the warm Dubai heat to warm up myself and my skin a bit.

The Weekend

Unlike in Europe, where the weekend starts on Friday afternoon and lasts until Sunday, the weekend in Dubai starts on Thursday.

So Fridays and Saturdays are considered weekend days here, just like Saturday and Sunday are for us. Therefore, Sunday is a completely normal working day here.

That’s good to know. For example, last Sunday we wondered why there was so little going on everywhere. We were also surprised that on Fridays the stores open later and stay open longer. From a European point of view, you would expect something like this on a Saturday or Sunday. But of course, if Friday is already a free weekend day.

Accordingly, we have to rethink our planning a bit. We see it as an advantage that we have the opportunity to explore Dubai and its sights and activities in peace on Sundays. Since the inhabitants of Dubai have to work on Sundays, there is then also less going on and one escapes the weekend hustle and bustle a little.

The “fixed” days off

I had to smile a bit when I learned that here in Dubai there are “fixed” vacations, respectively days off. In addition to the normal vacation days that are regulated in the employment contract, there are still days off that you could compare a little with the public holidays in Germany. But only a little bit.

Unlike in Germany, these days off are also regulated and when they are then, really everyone has free. However, it is not certain when these free days or additional vacations will be. Therefore, to take advantage of them, you have to be very spontaneous.

In fact, the moon is responsible for the extra days off all over Dubai. It probably has something to do with the Arabic faith. How or what exactly is behind it, even a long-time resident of Dubai could not explain to me.
But this much I understood: In the Arabic faith the moon plays a big role. It decreases continuously, is completely gone for a short time and then increases again. At the point where the moon is only a small crescent — where almost 90% of the moon is covered — the free days begin in the Arab culture.

When exactly this lunar stadium is reached, however, cannot be predicted. Therefore, the moon is always observed and as soon as it is possible to foresee when only this crescent moon will appear, the state then determines the additional free days accordingly.

It is probably also made sure that these are on a weekend, so that it is possible to have a week or sometimes even 2 free.

Behavior in public

Rules of conduct in public. I would actually say that there is no such thing in Germany. It is just appealed to the normal common sense but something really forbidden — except of course theft, bodily harm, etc. — I can not think of. — I can not think of.

It is different in Dubai. We did some research before our trip, because the Arab countries have a completely different culture. And as a guest in a country, you really don’t want to attract negative attention and break the rules

As we have now learned, hugging in public is not appreciated. Sometimes it is even forbidden. A short hug is tolerated as a greeting or farewell, but care is taken to ensure that it is not too tight or lasts too long.

It is the same with kissing. This is also not seen with pleasure and if one does it nevertheless, one is also admonished very fast and asked to refrain from this. But since you have to wear a mask everywhere anyway, it should also be logical that you can’t just take it off to kiss.

Holding hands, however, is fine. I must also say that you hardly see couples walking around holding hands. If are mostly tourists or people who are not from here. But in contrast to hugging, holding hands is allowed and does not cause an unpleasant stir.

Generally, it is also more likely here that the man is addressed. This actually has nothing to do with discrimination against women but much more with respect. As a sign of respect — I suppose before the relationship between man and woman — the man is therefore usually addressed. Thus one pays the necessary respect to the relationship. How this is, of course, in individual cases, I can not judge.

Ordering food from the car

Yes, this sounds a bit strange. And it gets even stranger. We have often observed cars stopping at the side of the road and simply honking their horns for no apparent reason. We were usually startled, looked around and searched for a reason for the honking.

On a common evening with friends we then learned that it is usual in Dubai to stop with the car in front of a restaurant and to honk. This is a signal to the waiters or the restaurant that you would like to have the menu to order something to take away. The waiter then brings the menu to the car and hands it to you through the window.

From the car then finally also the desired is ordered and brought after short time ready packed directly to the car. Thus one does not have to get out of the car, saves the heat and avoids also still unnecessary contacts. A not so stupid idea, I think.

The “inhabitants

On the common evening with our friends we experienced again and again, how they simply addressed strangers at the restaurant tables. Mostly just to ask how the food is or even what they have on the tables. Since we were a bit confused whether this is normal, we asked.

And indeed. It’s normal to just approach strangers here as well. Be it to inquire about the food or simply to start a conversation. Most of the time, people react very openly, friendly, receptive and happy about it.

We learned that many of the people who live in Dubai came here for a job. Many have therefore also come here alone and live as a single in Dubai. Therefore, the joy is even greater when you meet new people. This is of course the easiest way by simply addressing them.

The “Nightlife

As sociable and open as the people in Dubai may be, there is not really a nightlife as we know it. Since alcohol is generally not welcome here, there are only a few bars that even have a license to serve alcohol. If these are mostly selected, more noble bars and clubs that are also accordingly somewhat more expensive.

Alcohol is generally more expensive in Dubai. Our search for bars was therefore not so successful. In contrast to the European bars, which are teeming with alcohol, there are more shisha bars here.

But you don’t have to give up partying or nightlife completely. On many websites you can find lists of “ladies nights”. These take place on fixed days and at certain locations. Mostly the entrance and also often the drinks are for free for the women. Men, on the other hand, pay the normal entrance fee. Mostly, however, the entrance fee also includes drinks worth the entrance fee.

Likewise, there are various discos that you can visit from 23 — officially 3 o’clock at night. How exactly it looks there, I can not say yet.

If you walk through the streets of Dubai in the evening, you will always notice business cards with lightly dressed women on them. These lie everywhere on the floor of the sidewalks around. If one looks more exactly, one recognizes that to each woman also a suitable cell phone number on the maps is to be found. Well, that’s one way to do it.

We only wonder if these cards will be collected again later in the evening or how they will eventually disappear from the street. Prostitution, just like homo- or bi-sexuality, is punishable in Dubai.

The railroad traffic

If you want to move around Dubai, the train is probably the easiest and cheapest solution. There are three train lines in total. The Redline, the Greenline and the Yellowline. With the help of these you can get around very well in central Dubai.

However, if you want to go further outside or outside the downtown and the marina, a car is recommended. The rail lines were probably expanded especially because of the Expo 2020 correspond to the central places and connect them very well. At the less central places, however, the public infrastructure is missing.

Also very good to know: The trains only run until about 23:00. If you want to go somewhere or even home after 11 p.m., you have to take a cab again. We were really lucky once, when we were still on the Creek in the evening. By chance we caught the last train and were very surprised when the statement sounded that this is the last ride.

From the larger cities in Germany or meanwhile also in the regional traffic one is used to the fact that also at night still connections exist. Even if they are not as frequent as during the day, you can still get from A to B by train at night. Well, that’s not possible in Dubai.